the powers of earth or hell ever to " separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus x." Yea, such " an anchor shall it be to our souls," that we shall be steadfast7 in the midst of this tempestuous world, and be enabled to outride the storm, which causes many to " make shipwreck of their faith2," and ultimately sinks them to everlasting perdition3.
Let me then entreat you, first, to get this helmet. Be not satisfied with a delusive hope that will fail you in the day of necessity ; but bring it to the trial: see whether it be able to endure the assaults of your adversary : compare it with the description which God himself gives of that which is true and saving. Look well to it that it be not self-righteous, pre- sumptuous, or hypocritical. Be well assured that it is of heavenly temper : and let daily experience shew, that it enables you to " lift up your head above all your enemies," whether outward or inward, terrestrial or infernal. Think with yourselves, how awful it- would be to find, either in the hour of death or in the day of judgment, that you had deceived your- selves with some phantom of your own imagination, and formed expectations of happiness that cannot be realized. O do not expose yourselves to such a dreadful disappointment. Remember the fate of the foolish virgins : they hoped that their lamp of pro- fession would suffice, though they were destitute of the oil whereby alone they could make their light to shine. Through this they perishedb, as thousands of others have done, by resting in their religious privileges, or their outward conformity to the Divine will, when they had not the inward principle of renewing, sanctifying grace0. But let it not be so with you. " Judge yourselves, that you may not be judged of the Lordd." And beg of God to give you that " hope that shall never make you ashamed6."
Next, we would urge you to keep on this helmet in all your conflicts. Constant will be Satan's endeavours
x Bom. viii. 81—39. y Heb. vi. 19. * 1 Tim. i. 19.
a Heb. x. 39. ll Matt. xxv. 4, 8—11.
c Matt. vii. 21—23. d 1 Cor. xi. 31. • Rom. v. 5.